Cosmetic container with replaceable inserts

ABSTRACT

A cosmetic container having a cover, a base, and a base insert is provided. The base is coupled to the cover at a rotatable hinge. The rotatable hinge has a freedom of rotation to configure the cover and the base between a first angle and a second angle and between the second angle and the third angle. The base insert is removably coupled to the base. The base insert is secured to the base when an angle between the cover and the base is between the first angle and the second angle. The base insert begins decoupling from the base when the angle between the cover and the base is greater than the second angle.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to a cosmetic container, and more specifically, to a cosmetic container having one or more replaceable inserts.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Cosmetics are products designed for several uses. For example, cosmetics can be designed for skin care, allowing individuals to cleanse, exfoliate, and protect skin using cleansers, toners, serums, moisturizers, balms, etc. Cosmetics can also be designed for beautification or enhancing appearance. For example, cosmetics can be used for concealing blemishes, enhancing natural features such as eyelashes or eyebrows, adding color to an individual's face, etc. Cosmetics are ubiquitous in society regardless of class structure. Cosmetics can be seen commonly used in television and movies by public personalities and also used by any other individual who is not under hyper scrutiny. Due to the widespread use of cosmetics, cosmetics are typically available in portable containers (e.g., compacts).

Some cosmetic containers include more than one type of cosmetics such as powders, creams, mascara, eye shadow, etc. Sometimes cosmetic containers have variations to each type of cosmetic. For example, different shades of powder can be included in each cosmetic container. Since cosmetic containers can include more than one type of cosmetics and also a variety of each type of cosmetics, the cosmetics in the cosmetic containers are typically separated from each other. Inserts are included in the cosmetics containers to separate different variations and/or different types of cosmetics.

Existing cosmetic containers can be made from different materials. For example, the inserts may be made of plastic or some other polymer while the exterior of the cosmetic container may be made of metal or another material. Due to portability of some of the cosmetic containers, some of these cosmetic containers may contain less than a month's supply of cosmetics. After the supply of cosmetics is depleted in the cosmetic container, the cosmetic container is discarded and will likely end up in a landfill. Cosmetic containers made of multiple materials or even a mix of polymers are difficult to recycle. Therefore, when considering the ubiquity of cosmetics in the world, conventional cosmetics containers can end up being major pollutants if they end up, for example, in bodies of water.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The term embodiment and like terms, e.g., implementation, configuration, aspect, example, and option, are intended to refer broadly to all of the subject matter of this disclosure and the claims below. Statements containing these terms should be understood not to limit the subject matter described herein or to limit the meaning or scope of the claims below. Embodiments of the present disclosure covered herein are defined by the claims below, not this summary. This summary is a high-level overview of various aspects of the disclosure and introduces some of the concepts that are further described in the Detailed Description section below. This summary is not intended to identify key or essential features of the claimed subject matter. This summary is also not intended to be used in isolation to determine the scope of the claimed subject matter. The subject matter should be understood by reference to appropriate portions of the entire specification of this disclosure, any or all drawings, and each claim.

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a cosmetic container having a cover, a base, and a base insert is provided. The base is coupled to the cover at a rotatable hinge. The rotatable hinge has a freedom of rotation to configure the cover and the base between a first angle and a second angle and between the second angle and a third angle. The base insert is removably coupled to the base. The base insert is secured to the base when an angle between the cover and the base is between the first angle and the second angle. The base insert begins decoupling from the base when the angle between the cover and the base is greater than the second angle.

According to certain aspects of the present disclosure, a method for replacing a base insert of a cosmetic container includes pivoting a cover of the cosmetic container about a first end of a base of the cosmetic container. The cover is coupled to the base at a rotatable hinge that is at the first end. The pivoting includes (a) increasing an angle between the cover and the base until a first resistance is met when the angle increases from a first angle to a second angle, and (b) continuing to increase the angle past the second angle to a third angle. The cover is caused to engage with the base insert of the cosmetic container between the second angle and the third angle. The base insert is removably coupled to the base such that the base insert is in (i) a secured position at the second angle and (ii) a detached position at the third angle.

The above summary is not intended to represent each embodiment or every aspect of the present disclosure. Rather, the foregoing summary merely provides an example of some of the novel aspects and features set forth herein. The above features and advantages, and other features and advantages of the present disclosure, will be readily apparent from the following detailed description of representative embodiments and modes for carrying out the present invention, when taken in connection with the accompanying drawings and the appended claims. Additional aspects of the disclosure will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art in view of the detailed description of various embodiments, which is made with reference to the drawings, a brief description of which is provided below.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The disclosure, and its advantages and drawings, will be better understood from the following description of representative embodiments together with reference to the accompanying drawings. These drawings depict only representative embodiments, and are therefore not to be considered as limitations on the scope of the various embodiments or claims.

FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a cosmetic container in a closed position, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2A is a side view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 , according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2B is a front view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 , according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 2C is a back view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 , according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 in a first operating position, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 having a first base insert in a detached position, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 with the first base insert removed, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 when a cover and a base of the cosmetic container are at a first angle.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 when the cover and the base of the cosmetic container are at an intermediate angle.

FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 when the cover and the base of the cosmetic container are at a second angle.

FIG. 5C illustrates an enlarged portion of FIG. 5B.

FIG. 5D is a partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container at the second angle.

FIG. 6A is a partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 showing a bending of the first base insert of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 , according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 6B is another partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 showing a bending of the base insert of the cosmetic container.

FIG. 7A is another partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 when the cover and the base of the cosmetic container are at a third angle.

FIG. 7B is another partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 when the cover and the base of the cosmetic container are at the third angle.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 when the base insert pops out of the base, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 8B illustrates an enlarged portion of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 8C is another partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 when the base insert pops out of the base.

FIG. 8D illustrates a second enlarged portion of FIG. 8A.

FIG. 9A illustrates an exploded perspective view of the cosmetic container of FIG. 1 with a second base insert, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 9B illustrates another exploded perspective view of FIG. 9A.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Cosmetic containers can include multiple materials. Some of these materials may be recyclable while others may not. For example, some cosmetic containers can include mixed polymers where some of the polymers are recyclable while others are not. Even in situations where mixed polymers are recyclable, some countries or jurisdictions require separating or categorizing the polymers by type. For example, plastics are labeled by number to guide consumers on which can be recycled. Since the recycling process can be different for different numbered plastics, the jurisdiction may require consumers separate these plastics from each other. A cosmetic container having multiple plastics can thus be rendered un-recyclable even though some part of the cosmetic container could have been recycled. Thus, embodiments of the present disclosure provide a sustainable cosmetic container design that promotes recyclability. The sustainable cosmetic container design eases effort of recycling, thus making recycling a cosmetic container more user friendly for consumers. Embodiments of the present disclosure enable recycling a compact or some other case or container that is similar to a compact.

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide a cosmetic container having a cover, a base, and a base insert. The base is coupled to the cover at a rotatable hinge. The rotatable hinge has a freedom of rotation to configure the cover and the base between a first angle and a second angle and between the second angle and the third angle. The base insert is removable from the base when the cover and the base are configured at the third angle. Thus, by merely pivoting the cover about the base past a certain angle, the base insert can be detached from the base.

Various embodiments are described with reference to the attached figures, where like reference numerals are used throughout the figures to designate similar or equivalent elements. The figures are not necessarily drawn to scale and are provided merely to illustrate aspects and features of the present disclosure. Numerous specific details, relationships, and methods are set forth to provide a full understanding of certain aspects and features of the present disclosure, although one having ordinary skill in the relevant art will recognize that these aspects and features can be practiced without one or more of the specific details, with other relationships, or with other methods. In some instances, well-known structures or operations are not shown in detail for illustrative purposes. The various embodiments disclosed herein are not necessarily limited by the illustrated ordering of acts or events, as some acts may occur in different orders and/or concurrently with other acts or events. Furthermore, not all illustrated acts or events are necessarily required to implement certain aspects and features of the present disclosure.

For purposes of the present detailed description, unless specifically disclaimed, and where appropriate, the singular includes the plural and vice versa. The word “including” means “including without limitation.” Moreover, words of approximation, such as “about,” “almost,” “substantially,” “approximately,” and the like, can be used herein to mean “at,” “near,” “nearly at,” “within 3-5% of,” “within acceptable manufacturing tolerances of,” or any logical combination thereof. Similarly, terms “vertical” or “horizontal” are intended to additionally include “within 3-5% of a vertical or horizontal orientation, respectively. Additionally, words of direction, such as “top,” “bottom,” “left,” “right,” “above,” and “below” are intended to relate to the equivalent direction as depicted in a reference illustration; as understood contextually from the object(s) or element(s) being referenced, such as from a commonly used position for the object(s) or element(s); or as otherwise described herein.

Referring to FIG. 1 , a perspective view showing a cosmetic container 100 in a closed position is provided, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The cosmetic container 100 includes a cover 102 and a base 104. The cover 102 has an outer surface 103, a front edge 112, a back edge (not shown), and one or more side edges 113. The outer surface 103 of the cover 102 is shown in FIG. 1 as a planar surface, but in some implementations, the outer surface 103 can have a curvature. In an example, the outer surface 103 has dimensions of about 78 millimeters (“mm”) by 77 mm. The cover 102 has a thickness Ch. In some implementations, the thickness Ch is about 4.6 mm. A front tab 108 extends from the front edge 112 of the cover 102. The front tab 108 is configured to engage with the base 104 at a catch area 110 provided on a front edge 114 of the base 104. In some implementations, the front tab 108 extends about 4 mm from the front edge 112 of the cover 102.

The base 104 has a thickness B_(h). In some implementations, the thickness B_(h) is about 10 mm. In the closed position, the cover 102 is secured to the base 104 such that the front tab 108 of the cover 102 engages with the catch area 110 of the base 104. The base 104 has at least one side edge 115. A pivot axis 106 is provided at the side edge 115 of the base 104 such that when the cover 102 is not secured to the base 104 at the catch area 110 of the base 104, the cover 102 pivots about the base 104 at the pivot axis 106. When the cover 102 is secured to the base 104, the engagement between the front tab 108 of the cover 102 and the catch area 110 of the base 104 prevents the cover 102 from pivoting about the pivot axis 106. At least one hinge pin 107 is provided for rotatably coupling the cover 102 to the base 104. In some implementations, the pivot axis 106 is at the center of the hinge pin 107.

FIG. 2A is a side view of the cosmetic container 100, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 2B is a front view of the cosmetic container 100, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 2B identifies section AA and section BB used in cross sections in later figures. FIG. 2C is a back view of the cosmetic container 100, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. A hinge cam 202 extends from the cover 102. The hinge cam 202 includes a hole (not shown) for receiving the at least one hinge pin 107. The hinge cam 202 when aligned with the base 104 creates a hinge knuckle such that the at least one hinge pin 107 holds the hinge knuckle together while the cover 102 pivots about the hinge pin 107. In some implementations, the hinge cam 202 extends about 7.7 mm from the back edge of the cover 102. The hinge pin 107, the base 104, and the hinge cam 202 effectively form a rotatable hinge.

FIG. 3A is a perspective view of the cosmetic container 100 in a first operating position, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The cosmetic container 100 has multiple operating positions. The cover 102 can transition from the closed position of FIG. 1 to the multiple operating positions. An operating position is defined as a position between the cover 102 and the base 104 where a base insert (e.g., a first base insert 402) is fully locked to the base 104. The cover 102 is shown to have an inner surface 304. In some implementations, at least a portion of the inner surface 304 is reflective. In some implementations, a mirror is positioned or attached to the inner surface 304 to achieve a reflective surface.

The first base insert 402 is fully locked in the base 104. The first base insert 402 is shown to include a depression 302. The depression 302 is circular. In some implementations, the depression 302 is provided to hold cosmetic products. FIG. 3A merely provides an example. In some implementations, base inserts can have more than one depression for holding more than one cosmetic product. The more than one depression can be organized in an array with rows and columns. In some implementations, the base inserts are palettes with more than one depression. The shape of the depressions is not limited herein. The shape of the depressions can include circles, rectangles, squares, polygons, or any combination thereof.

FIG. 3B is a perspective view of the cosmetic container 100 having the first base insert 402 in a detached position, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. In the detached position, a back side of the first base insert 402 is no longer attached to the base 104. FIG. 3C is a perspective view of the cosmetic container 100 having the first base insert 402 removed from the base 104, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The first base insert 402 includes one or more protrusions 404 for coupling a front side of the first base insert 402 to the base 104. The base 104 is shown to include an inner floor 306 and at least one inner sidewall 308. By being able to remove the first base insert 402, the base 104 and the cover 102 are reusable with another base insert. For example, a customer may purchase new cosmetic products to use with the same compact or may want to carry more than one cosmetic product in the same compact. Swapping out base inserts provides the customer the freedom to rearrange the interior of the cosmetic container 100.

Although the cosmetic container 100 disclosed thus far is shaped as a rectangular prism, the present disclosure is not limited to such shapes. In some implementations, the cosmetic container 100 can be cylindrical. In some implementations, the cosmetic container 100 can have other cross sectional shapes besides squares, rectangles, or circles. The cross sectional shapes can include a heptagon, hexagon, or any other polygon.

FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 when the cover 102 and the base 104 of the cosmetic container 100 are at a first angle. In FIG. 4 , the first angle is 0 degrees, and the cosmetic container 100 is in the closed position. The cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 provided in FIG. 4 is along the BB line shown in FIG. 2B. The cosmetic container 100 includes the first base insert 402 as described above in connection with FIGS. 3A-3C. The first base insert 402 has the protrusion 404 that is situated within a front base interior slot 406 within the base 104. The first base insert 402 further includes a contact feature 408. The contact feature 408 is shown to have at least a curvature that matches a curvature of at least a portion of the hinge cam 202 of the cover 102. In some implementations, the contact feature 408 is a lever.

FIG. 5A is a cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 when the cover 102 and the base 104 are at an intermediate angle relative to each other. In FIG. 5A, the intermediate angle is 90 degrees. The cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 provided in FIG. 5A is along the BB line shown in FIG. 2B. The curvature of the portion of the hinge cam 202 of the cover 102 allows the cover 102 to rotate freely without engaging the contact feature 408 at the intermediate angle.

FIG. 5B is a partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 when the cover 102 and the base 104 are at a second angle relative to each other. The cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 provided in FIG. 5B is also along the BB line shown in FIG. 2B. In FIG. 5B, the second angle is 135 degrees. FIG. 5C illustrates an enlarged portion of FIG. 5B. At the second angle α, the hinge cam 202 of the cover 102 touches the contact feature 408. The contact feature 408 presents a first resistance to the cover 102, preventing further pivoting of the cover 102 about the pivot axis 106 (FIG. 1 ).

FIG. 5D is a partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 at the second angle. The partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 is along the AA line shown in FIG. 2B. The first base insert 402 includes a snap-fit feature 502 that engages an overhang 504 of a snap-fitting slot provided in the base 104. As shown in FIG. 5D, at the second angle, the snap-fit feature 502 is fully hooked and engaged with the overhang 504 of the snap-fitting slot. The overhang 504 prevents the first base insert 402 from popping out when the snap-fit feature 502 fully engages with the overhang 504 of the snap-fitting slot. The multiple operating positions of the cosmetic container 100 are defined between the first angle and the second angle.

FIG. 6A is a partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 showing a bending of the contact feature 408 of the first base insert 402, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 provided in FIG. 6A is along the BB line shown in FIG. 2B. In some implementations, when the cover 102 pivots past the second angle, the hinge cam 202 of the cover 102 pushes against the contact feature 408 of the first base insert 402. In response, the first base insert 402 bends or flexes to provide room for the cover 102 to continue pivoting past the second angle. FIG. 6A shows the cover 102 and the base 104 at one of many displacing angles. A displacing angle is an angle that causes the contact feature 408 to bend or give way to the cover 102 such that the cover 102 can continue pivoting about the pivot axis 106 (FIG. 1 ). In FIG. 6A, the displacing angle α′ is about 180 degrees.

FIG. 6B is another partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 showing a displacement of the snap-fit feature 502, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. The cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 provided in FIG. 6B is along the AA line shown in FIG. 2B. The contact feature 408 is laterally coupled to the snap-fit feature 502. As the contact feature 408 bends, as disclosed in FIG. 6A, the snap-fit feature 502 is displaced in a same direction as the bend. The displacement of the snap-fit feature 502 causes the snap-fit feature 502 to retreat from the overhang 504 of the snap-fitting slot. The displacing angle shown in FIGS. 6A-6B indicate the maximum displacing angle where the snap-fit feature 502 achieves a maximum lateral bend before detachment of the first base insert 402.

FIG. 7A is another partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 illustrating the cover 102 and the base 104 rotated at a third angle relative to each other. The partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 provided in FIG. 7A is along the BB line shown in FIG. 2B. At the third angle, the contact feature 408 bends further when compared to FIG. 6A. In some implementations, the third angle is about 190 degrees. FIG. 7B is another partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 illustrating the cover 102 and the base 104 rotated at the third angle relative to each other. The partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 provided in FIG. 7B is along the AA line shown in FIG. 2B. The contact feature 408 bending further causes a further displacement of the snap-fit feature 502 such that the snap-fit feature 502 moves further away from the overhang 504 of the snap-fitting slot 504. The contact feature 408 and the snap-fit feature 502 similarly moves away to provide more room for the cover 102 to rotate. In some implementations, rotating the cover 102 between the second angle and the third angle presents a sliding scale of resistance based on the hinge cam 202 of the cover 102 contacting the contact feature 408. As the contact feature 408 bends, the resistance increases with further bending until the cover 102 reaches the third angle with respect to the base 104.

FIG. 8A is a cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 when the first base insert 402 pops out of the base while the cover 102 and the base 104 are at the third angle. FIG. 8B illustrates an enlarged portion of FIG. 8A. FIG. 8C is another partial cross-sectional view of the cosmetic container 100 when the first base insert 402 pops out of the base 104. Referring back to FIG. 7B, the snap-fit feature 502 no longer contacts the overhang of the snap-fitting slot 504 as shown in FIG. 7B. The cover 102 is at the third angle with respect to the base 104. At this position, the hinge cam 202 is angled to provide an upward force to the first base insert 402, and without the downward force of the overhang 504 on the snap-fitting feature 502, there is no downward force pushing on the first base insert 402 to counter any upward forces conveyed by the cover 102 being at the third angle with respect to the base 104. Thus, referring back to FIGS. 8B and 8C, the absence of a downward force allows the contact feature 408 to ride up the hinge cam 202 of the cover 102. FIG. 8D illustrates an enlarged portion of FIG. 8A. When the back side of the first base insert 402 pops out, the front side of the first base insert 402 pivots around the front base interior slot 406. With the back side of the first base insert 402 extending above the base 104, the first base insert 402 is easily removed from the base and can be replaced with another base insert.

Inserting another base insert in the base 104 can follow a reversal of the steps provided in FIGS. 4 through 8D. The new base insert can be pushed down while the angle between the cover 102 and the base 104 is at one of many angles that indicate that the cosmetic container 102 is in an operating position. Once the new base insert is pushed far enough, the overhang 504 of the snap-fitting slot acts as a catch such that motion of the snap-fit feature of the new base insert is limited within the snap-fitting slot (e.g. FIG. 5D).

FIG. 9A illustrates an exploded perspective view of the cosmetic container 100 with a second base insert 402′, according to certain aspects of the present disclosure. FIG. 9B illustrates another exploded perspective view of FIG. 9A. The second base insert 402′ is shown without any depressions. That is, in some implementations, the second base insert 402′ can merely be a frame that includes one or more openings. In these implementations, the cosmetic product(s) can be situated on an inner floor (e.g., the inner floor 306) of the base 104 while the second base insert 402′ merely provides a separation and controlled access to the cosmetic product(s). The shape of the openings can be circular, rectangular, square, polygonal, or any combination thereof. The openings can be arranged as an array. In some implementations where the cosmetic product(s) are situated on the inner floor of the base 104, a tray holding the cosmetic product(s) can be bonded to the inner floor of the base 104. That way, the tray can be removed and replaced. The base insert can be removed to provide access to the tray.

Although the disclosed embodiments have been illustrated and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent alterations and modifications will occur or be known to others skilled in the art upon the reading and understanding of this specification and the annexed drawings. In addition, while a particular feature of the invention may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such feature may be combined with one or more other features of the other implementations as may be desired and advantageous for any given or particular application.

While various embodiments of the present disclosure have been described above, it should be understood that they have been presented by way of example only, and not limitation. Numerous changes to the disclosed embodiments can be made in accordance with the disclosure herein, without departing from the spirit or scope of the disclosure. Thus, the breadth and scope of the present disclosure should not be limited by any of the above described embodiments. Rather, the scope of the disclosure should be defined in accordance with the following claims and their equivalents. 

1. A cosmetic container comprising: a cover having a hinge cam; a base having a front base wall and a back base wall, the base being coupled near the back base wall to the cover at a rotatable hinge, the rotatable hinge having a freedom of rotation to configure the cover and the base between a first angle and a second angle and between the second angle and a third angle, the base having one or more interior slots on an interior surface of the front base wall; and a base insert having a front insert wall and a back insert wall that extend between a top insert surface and a bottom insert surface, the cover being near the top insert surface and the base being near the bottom insert surface, the base insert being removably coupled to the base, the base insert being in the form of a palette with a depression for receiving a cosmetic product, the base insert having one or more protrusions along the front insert wall, the one or more protrusions being, respectively, removably received within the one or more interior slots of the base, and a contact feature adjacent to the hinge cam and near the back insert wall and the bottom insert surface, the contact feature having a curvature that matches a curvature of at least a portion of the hinge cam; wherein in a first position the base insert is secured to the base when an angle between the cover and the base is between the first angle and the second angle, the one or more protrusions being respectively engaged within the one or more interior slots of the base in the first position, the contact feature being free of pressure from the hinge cam in the first position, wherein in a second position the base insert begins to decouple from the base at a third angle between the cover and the base that is greater than the second angle, the decoupling being caused by pressure between the contact feature and the hinge cam, the engagement between the one or more protrusions and the one or more interior slots causing flexure of the base insert within the base, and wherein in a third position, the base insert is completely decoupled from the base solely in response to continued rotation of the cover at a fourth angle that is greater than the third angle, the one or more protrusions being disengaged from the one or more interior slots and the contact feature being free from contact with the hinge cam.
 2. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the cosmetic container includes a square, a rectangle, a circle, or a polygon.
 3. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein the base includes an overhang of a snap-fitting slot and the base insert includes a snap-fit feature such that when the base insert is secured to the base, the snap-fit feature of the base insert engages the overhang of the snap-fitting slot of the base. 4-8. (canceled)
 9. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein a thickness of the cover is about 4.6 mm and a thickness of the base is about 10 mm.
 10. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein the contact feature of the base insert provides a resistance to further rotate the cover past the second angle.
 11. The cosmetic container of claim 1, wherein the first angle is about 0 degrees, the second angle is about 135 degrees, and the third angle is about 190 degrees. 12-20. (canceled)
 21. A method for replacing a base insert of a cosmetic container, the method comprising: providing a base insert that is removably coupled between a base and a cover; initially, in a first position, engaging near a front side of the cosmetic container one or more protrusions of the base insert with respective ones of one or more interior slots of the base, a contact feature of the base insert being free of pressure from a hinge cam of the cover, the first position being achieved in response to an angle between the cover and the base is between a first angle and a second angle; in response to rotating the cover to a third angle that is greater than the second angle, achieving a second position in which base insert begins to decouple from the base, the decoupling being caused by pressure between the contact feature and the hinge cam, the engagement between the one or more protrusions and the one or more interior slots causing flexure of the base insert within the base; and in response to rotating the cover to a fourth angle that is greater than the third angle, achieving a third position in which the base insert is completely decoupled from the base, the one or more protrusions being disengaged from the one or more interior slots in the third position, the contact feature being free from contact with the hinge cam in the third position.
 22. The method of claim 21, further comprising snapping in another base insert in the base to replace the base insert.
 23. The method of claim 21, wherein the first angle is about 0 degrees, the second angle is about 135 degrees, and the third angle is about 190 degrees.
 24. The method of claim 21, wherein a cross-sectional shape of the cosmetic container includes a square, a rectangle, a circle, or a polygon.
 25. The method of claim 21, wherein the base insert is in the form of a palette with a depression for receiving a cosmetic product.
 26. The method of claim 25, wherein a shape of the depression includes a circle, a square, a polygon, a rectangle, or any combination thereof. 